Electric signal system.



T l Y1 Til-In V. L. BEEMAN. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION rum) my .5 1908.

FIFIFI u u U Fl FL Ll[ [Ll Patented Feb. 16, 1909;

Q SHEETS-SHEET 2.

To vall whom it may concern:

Be it; known that ,I, VALENTINE -L. BEE- MAN, 1' CltlZ8I1 of-the United States, residing at Wellington, in the county of Lorain and Stateyof =Ohio, haveinvented certain new and usefulimprovements in Electric Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification. z

My invention relates to improvements in railway signal systems, and more particularly to visual. signals for railway service in which electrical and mechanical devices jointlycotiperate-for" the purpose of indicating'the position of a train on the-road at the despatcher s oilic'e, orin the locomotivecab' of another train, or at both of said places whereby said rolling stock will be protectedfrom collision.

Briefiy,-.the invention consists in dividing the track or itracks into blocks-or sections of predetermined,*lengths, each provided with electricaldevices capable of being ,operated by a locomotivezor car passing there-through in either direction, the construction and arrangementbeing suchthat the position of a train .willbe automatically indicated in the signal tower, or in both the signal tower, and the locomotive-cab of an approaching train, as may bedesired.

Provision 'is made in my improved system whereby the .train-despatcher at his headquarters mayby reference to visual signals or indicating-mechanism displayed therein follow: the train throughout its entire course or determine its ..location.

With th'ese.ends 1nv1ew, my invention consists infthe novel construction, arrangement, andcombi'nation of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the a pended claims.

Re erring to the; drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure is a top plan view of a track relay, and its connections, 'used;in the present embodiment of the improved signal system. Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional. View of the relay-box or casing, the relay mechanism being shown in side elevation. Fig. 3, a side elevationof the same, the relay being shown in, an energized position inconnection with a pendent reverslble magnet adapted to be carried by a locomotive orcar. Fig; 4, a cross-sectional view. of the track relay taken through line i it-4,1 1 Fig .1, 1ei 5,'a plan view'of a;-

.portion 'of ai railweyeguipped 'withthe i i "Specification of Letters Patent. Pate'ntedFb.i,?1909. Applicationfiledlllay ze.1908, Serial M43904. I l

PATENT/OFFICE".

-' VALENTINE BEEMAN, r-WELLINGroN,on1o. 5

, ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

matic view ofthe same, the track being divided into four sections or blocks. Fig. 7 a side elevation of the improved indicating or recording device to be mounted in the train-despa'tchers office, or in a tower. Fig. 8, a similar view of the same, partly in sec tion, illustrating spring and pivot connections of the oscillating armature bar.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

The, improved track-relay is mounted in a relay-box or casing 1, preferably, midway between the rails 2, of the track, and at suitable intervals or distances apart (for example, one mile), and the track is divided into a plurality of sections or blocks, each block or section being provided at suitable intervals with track-relays, ,for example, five in each section, as shown in Fig. 6, of the drawings. The relay-box or casing 1, is preferably mounted between the ties 3, and is provided with a cover l.

The relay mechanism comprises a horizontal rotatablymounted .bar or shaft 5, supported at its ends in bearings 6, of vertical pillow-blocks or bearing-brackets 7 supported on the base or bottom of the relaybox or casing near each end thereof. The bar or shaft 5, is provided, intermediate or midway of its ends, with armature-bar 8, normally held in a horizontal position by means of a lever-bar 9, said lever-bar being connected to one end of the bar or shaft 5, and provided at its free end with a wei 'ht or head 10. The bar or shaft 5, is, provided on opposite sides, and, preferably, near each end thereof, with contact-proj ections or cams '11, said contact-projections being, preferably, in aline'mentjwith the armature-bar 8,

proved signal system. Fig. 6, adiagram I and carried by the oscillating shaft. 5, when actuated by the energized magnet bar 8, to

make contact with the contactpoints of the projections or cams 11-. In the present instance, the lower-spring-bars 12, and 12, are provided near theirfree ends with contact-studs 13, adapted to make contact with the free ends of the upper'or opposing spring .-,bars 12, and 12, when the lower spring' bars are engaged by the adjacent contact-projections 11, on the oscillating bar or shaft 5, when the armature-bar 8, is energized In thepresent instance,-the lower spring-bar 12, is electrically-connected to a positive feed wire 14, the upper spring bar 12, being connected to a return-wire 15, leading to the indicator, hereinafter described The lower spring bar 12*, is simi larly connected to a negative feed-wire 16, the upper spring bar 12, being similarly connected to the return-wire 15. The positive and negative feed-Wires 14, and 16, and return-wire 15, are, preferably, carried and supported along the right of'way by means of poles 17, and cross-arms 18, as shown in Fig. 5, of the drawings. The said feed and return wires are provided at suitable intervals with lead wires leading to the several tracl'rrelays and entering the bottom, of the relay-box creasing, through suitable openings 19;

. The indicator designed to' be located in the train-despatchei"s oiiice, or in a tower, comprises a base-plate 20, suitably mounted,

and to which is secured a pair of bearing- .arms or standards 21. An armature-bar 22, is pivotally-inounted and interposed between the ends of-the standards 21, and is normally held in a position parallel to the base-plate 20, and its motion on the pivot 23, resisted, by meansof a pair of spring-arms 24, interposed between the standards 21, and secured in position by means of pins 25. The armature-bar 25 is provided at its'ends NVltlloppositely disposed spring arms 26,

I carrying in their ends marking-pencils or points 27, and 27, adapted to impinge upon impression-plates 28, and 28, when the armature bar 22, is energized and moved through the medium ofthe electromagnets 29', connected to the returmwire 15. The impression-plates or recording devices, indi cated at 28'and 28', may be of any suitable and convenient form for performing this function and for the purpose of this application need notbe further described.

For the purpose of energizing the arma ture-bar 8, of the-track magnet, a reversible pendent magnet 30, is secured to the locomotive or car by means of depending bearingarms 31, and a cross-shaft 32. The cross shaft 32, is provided with a pinion 33, and a reversing lever 34, is provided with a rack 34*, engaging with the pinion .33, whereby the poles of the magnet 30, may be reversed to attract the poles of the armature-bar 8, according to the direction in which the locomotive or car is traveling. v

Upon referring to Fig. 3, it will beseen that the negative or south pole ofthe pendent magnet 30, has attracted the positive or north pole of the armature-bar 8, swinging the shaft 5, and bringing one of the contactprojections 11, in engagement with a lower gagement' with said spring-mars.

positive feed-wire 14, is connected. The 1 wire 15, leading to the indicator in the train-despatche1"s office, or in a tower, will thus indicate the position of the locomotive or car-when the current connection is established. As soon as the magnet 30, has passed over the track-magnet the armaturebar 8, of the latterwill be restored .to its normal or horizontal position by the Weight or head. 10.

Upon referring to Fig. 6, of the drawings, it will be understood that, presuming a train to be starting'in on section or block A, in passing over the first relay a current will be established from the feed wire 14, through the conductingwire 15, leading to indicator, by the actionv of the relay, as hereinbefore described. The current flowing through the indicator shown. in Fi 7,wih energize'the magnetand attract tie south pole of the armature-bar 22, causing the marking pencil 27, to marlrupon the impression-plates or recording mechanism -28, thus indicating the position of the train and direction in which it is traveling.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawarmature bar according to the direction be-- ing traveled and toenergize said track-relays and close the circuit, means for deenergizing said track-relays and opening the circuit when passed by said train-mag net, an indicator, and a return-wireconnecting said track-relays with saidindicator.

2. In a railwaysignal system, a trainactuated track-relay comprising a reIay-box or casing, a shaft rotatably 'mountd therein and carrying a transverse armature-bar andoppositely disposed contact cams, switches each comprising a pair of spring-barshaving their free ends adapted to be engaged by said contact-cams, one of said spring-bars being connected to the circuit-wire and provided with a contact-stud at its free end and the other connected to a return-wire, and a weighted lever secured to said shaft and normally holding said contact-cams out of en'- 3. In a railway signal system, a train-a0 tuated track-relay comprising an oscillating shaft carrying a transverse armature-bar and contact-cams, sprino-bars having their *withsaid circuit-wire when said armaturebar'is energized, and means for returning said armature-bar to its normal position.

at. In a. railway signal system, a traininagnet actuated track-relay comprising, a relay-casing, an oscillating shaft mounted therein and carrying an armature-bar having a positive and negative pole and corresponding contact-cams, ositive and negative circuit closing switci spring-bars having their free ends adapted to make contact with each other when engaged by said contact-cams, positive and negative feed-wires connected to said switch spring-bars, a return wire connected to the opposing switch spring-bars normally separated from said spring-bars connected to said feed-wires, a reversible train-magnet adapted to energize one or the other of the poles of said armature-bar, means for restoring said armaturebar to its normal position, and indicating devices connected to said return wire for indicating the position of said arinaturebar when energized.

5. In a railway signal system, a trainniagnet actuated track-relay carrying an oscillating shaft having contactprojections and carrying an armature magnet-bar having a positive and a negative pole, a positive and a negative circuit-closing switch adapted to make contact with said contaet-projections, a positive and a negative feed-wire connected to said circuit-closing switches, respectively, a returnnvire connected to said switches and normally out of circuit with said feed-wires, a reversible train-magnet adapted'to energize one or the other of the poles of said armature magnet-bar, means for denergizing said track-relay, and means for indicating said train-magnet when ener gized.

6. In a. railway signal system, a'track-relay comprising a relay-casing, a shaft armed with contacts and carrying an armature magnet-bar having a positive and a negative pole, a positive and a negative circuit-closin switch adapted tomake contact with sai contacts, a positive and a negative feed-wire connected to said switches, respectively, a return-Wire connected to said switches and normally out of circuit with said feed-wires, means for energizing said track-relay, and means for deenergizing said track-relay.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

VALENTINE L. BEEMAN.

Witnesses:

H. A. BECKERMAN, O. C. BILLMAN. 

